Soldering-machine



J. T. GRIFFIN, C. A. NELSON AND M. H. CAMPBELL.

soLnEmNG MAcHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8' I9I8 .Patented May EIL, 319m.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. T. GRIFFIN. lc'. A. NELSON NND Ni. N. CAMPBELL.

` .soLnEmNG MACHINE.

. APELICATI'ON FILED QCT. IB, 1918*- A 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f ya 4 J. T. GRIFFIN, C. A. NELSON AND WI. H. CAMPBELL.

' I SOLDEHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mEn'ocT, 18, 191s.

0 Patented May 3L 192A..

4 SHEES-SHEET 3.

SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED oc. I8', |918.

Femm/ed. May 3L, 192B..

4 SHEES-SHEET 4.

llllv/ ...IIIIIII chines,

' State of illinois,

, provided therein, each set being JAMES T. GRIFFIN, 0F OAK PARK, CARL CAMPBELL, 0F IGERO, ILLINOIS, ASS

INCURPRATED, OF NEWv YORK, N. Y.,

Fill

a Matson, or omesso, .aan matura n. tenons ro Wns'rnnn nancrarc a ooiaronarrorr or New Yoan.

comentar,

marraine-atacante matassa.

Specification of Letters Patent. l Patil-@m1355301 311, M921.,

Application led @ctober' 18, 1918. Serial No. 25,'3fl.`

To all fwkom z't may concern.' l

Be it'knownthat We, JAMES T. GRIFFIN,

residing at Oak Park, in the countyof Cook and yState of Illinois,' CARL A.. NELSON, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and and MELvIN-H. CAMPBELL, residing at Cicero, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful .which the following improvements in Soldering-Machines, of is a full, clear, concise,

and'exact description.

. This invention relates to soldering ma for -soldering copper plated carbon disks of granular transmitters to their supports.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine by means of Which the operation of securing a disk to its support may be rapidly and efficiently performed With a minimum of manual operation.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a machine comprising a movable Work plurality of sets of Work holding openings adapted to 'g be moved in sequence from a loading position to an lunloading position and operations positions which secure the disks and supports together. Preferably the Work carrier co1nprises an intermittently rotatable member having a plurality of radially arranged sets of openings adapted to receive the parts to be operated upon. 4In one position of each of said openings the disks are automatically fed into the openings and this set of openings is then advanced into another position in vvhich solder is automatically-fed in thel proper amounts into the openings. contain'v vingjthe-disks. In subsequent movements of the carrier the set the disk and solder this set is then advanced into a' position where it is operated upon by soldering irons. rlhe auxiliary heating element positioned below thesoldering 1rons and in Contact with the part functions with the irons to uickly Vand thoroughly melt the solder. ubsequcnt to the operation by the soldering` irons the parts are brought successively into of openings. containing a position for operation of a'centering tool,

and into a nal position from which they are ejected from the carrier. .Located di.`

. and are controlled carrier having a receive the support, and

-upon line 14-141 of Fig. 13;

rectly below thev centering position is a coollng chamberwhich insures a suiicient cooling 4of the parts before ejection' from the carrier... The' operation mechanlsm, the' solder supplying means, the soldermg lrons, the centering tools, and the electors are automatic and simultaneous 1n ing the Work carrier.

ln the .drawings illustrating this inven- ,of the disk feeding Figure 1 is va vplan` View of a mechanism 'embodying the features of the invention; and more particularly to a machine upon line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the operating mechanism for driving vthe ratus;

Fig. 4C is a vievv in side elevationl With parts in section of the solderingsupplying mechanism;I f

Fig. 5 is a' view in end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig-t;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the solder feeding mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the disk supplying mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a'plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. .10 is a fragmentary detailed view of the disk supplying mechanism;

Fig.- 11 is a plan view of a sappcrtfng plate for the soldering irons, centering mechanism, and ejectors;

Fig. 12 is a vtical cross-sectional vievv illustrating the method of supporting'the soldering irons;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the centering devicesv Fig. 14: is a cross-sectional view taken Fig. 15 is a detailed cross-sectional vievv illustrating the ejecting mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of the base of the machine illustrating a cooling coily applied thereto;

Fig. 17 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 16, and

-F ig. 18 is a perspective vievi7 of the disk and the support to which it is to be secured. ln general, the apparatus of this invention the operation of rotat-4 MBO comprises a hollow base 5 within which is supported a circular plate 6 upon which the disks bear while being operated upon and in being moved from one position to another. The plate 6 is provided with circumferentially arranged grooves 7-7 centered with respect to the disks which reduce the friction on the disks when they. are moved from one position to another. Mounted below the base 5 is a motor 8 upon the shaft of which is mounted a worm 9, meshingwith which is a worm gear 10 which is secured to a shaft 11. The worm gear 10 is mounted within a casing 12 suspended from the base 5. The shaft 11 extends upwardly through the bottom of the base 5 and has secured to it a mutilated gear 13 which meshes with a gear 14 secured to a. sleeve 15 upon the upper end of `which is mounted a rotatable work carrier 16. Within. the sleeve 15 is a shaft or stud 2O which is slidable therein and which is provided with a square end 21 whichengages the housing 12 to hold it against rotation. This stud 20 is adapted for a vertical reciprocating motion for operating the various parts of the mechanism, as will hereinafter appear. j

lVithin the housing 12 is a cam 25 which coperates with an. arm 26 secured at one' end to the lower end of a stud 27 and having its other end rigidly secured to the stud 20. This cam 25 is secured to the shaft 11 to rotate therewith and causes the stud 20 to fall and rise with each complete revolution of the shaft 11. Securely fastened to the stud 20 above the carrier 16 are a pair of collars 30 and 31, the collar 30 carrying a plate 32, and the collar 31 carrying a plate 33. The upper end of stud 27 after passing through a boss 28 on base 5 is secured to a boss 34 on the plate 32. These plates 32 and 33 form the movable supports for the soldering, centering, and ejecting mechanisms as will hereinafter be set forth. Also carried by the stud 20 and located between the collars 30 and 31 are a second pair of collars 35 and 36 carrying projecting arms 38 and 39 respectively which coperate with the disk supplying mechanism and the solder supplying mechanisms respectively.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carrier 16 comprises a plurality of radially arranged arms 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, each being provided with two rows of circular openings 48--48, each opening being provided with radially arranged fins 49-49, the upper ends of which are sloped outwardly to assist in receiving and centering the circular parts to be operated upon. The arms 40, 41, 42, etc., are so spaced around the surface of the carrier 16 that they are moved one step equal to the distance between adjacent arms for each revolution of the shaft 1l. Eight G011- any particular arm is again in position for4 the disk loading operation. y

The disk supplying apparatus comprises a plurality of tubularhoppers 50-50 each of which contains a column of disks 51-51, the lower disk of each column resting upon a plate 52 provided with openings 53-53 of sufficient size to permit the passageof the disks therethrough. The lower disk of each column which normally rests upon the plate 52 is located within an opening 54 in a 'slide plate 55 which is adapted in the operation of the mechanism to move the lower disk of each column into register with the openings 53-53 in the plate 52, thereby permitting them to drop through the openings 53--53 into the openings 48-48 in one of the arms of the carrier. The movement of the slide plate 55 is controlled through the agency of a lever arm 56, the lower end of which engages a slot in said slide plate, the upper end being pivoted on a stud 57 and secured to operate with a crank arm 58 which is lcontrolled by the projecting arm 38 carried by the collar 35 on the sleeve or stud 20. As this sleeve or stud 20 is moved downwardly in response to the operation of the cam 25 the lever 56 will swing to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, to move the disks 51 into the openings 53-53 of the plate 5.2. Upon its return or up movement the arm 38 will restore the slide plate 55 to its normal position, whereupon another set of disks will be fed into the opening 54-54 ready for a subsequent operation. of the mechamsm.

The collar 35 is provided with a pin 60 by means of which the arm 38 may be swung out of engagement with the crank arm 58 the disks into the work carrier in case it is so desired.

The solder is supplied to the disks in the' openings 48-48 in the proper amounts through the agency of a feeding mechanism which comprises a pair of rollers 65, 66, between the adjacent surfaces 'of which strips of solder 67 are drawn. The free end of these solder strips extend through pilots 68-68 into position to be operated upon by knives 659-69. The feed roller 66 is provided with a knurled or roughened surface and is adapted to be rotated through the agency of a ratchet wheel 70 operated by a pawl 71 whichis carried upon a pivoted arm 72, the outer end of which is bifurcated, and is engaged by the end of the arm 39 carried by the collar 36 on the stud 20. A link .73, one end of which is supported upon the knives 69-69. t

retenes b means of a stud 74 at its lower end, a pair of links 75 and76 secured to longitudinally extending rods 77 and 78 to cured the lmives .69-69. These j knives -69--69 coperate with a cutting block169 to sever the ends of the strips of solder 67-67 which drop into the openings 48-48 upon y the disks 51-51 therein. I

In the operation of this mechanism the downward movement of the stud 20 causes a corresponding downward movement of the ment, to feed the solder strips downwardly agaln for a succeeding operation of the Soldering irons 80-80 are yieldingly supported between the plate-33 and an arm 81 on the plate 32. The yielding connection for each iron comprises a spring 82, one end of which is secured to a pivotal-lever 83, the other end to an adjustable stud 84 which extends upwardly to the upper portion of a casing 85 and has secured to it a wing nut 86 which bears against the upper portion of said casing 85. rllhe lever 83 extends inwardly through the side wall of the casing 85 and has its inner end bifurcated to engage a collar 87 on the soldering iron 80. leetrical connections are made to the soldering irons 80 within the casing 85 'through the agency of iexible conductors and binding posts 88.

Due to the fact that the support to which the disk is to be soldered is slightly less in diameter than the disk, it is necessary to provide some sort of centering mechanism whereby the two parts may be centered with respect to each other. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the centering mechanism for each device soldered comprises al pair of eccentrically adjustable sleeves 89 and 90 which are adjustably mounted in openings 91 in an arm 93 of the plate 32. Extending through the inner sleeve is a stud 94, the lower end of which is provided with an enlarged portion 95 having a centering opening 96 therein adapted to engage a stud 97 on a support 98 to which a disk 51 is soldered. A coil spring 99 surrounds the stud 94 with one end in engagement with the enlarged portion 95 thereon, the other end being in engagement with the lower portion of the sleeve 90. rlhis spring 99 permits the stud 94 to yield under pressure, thereby preventing injury to the disks 51 which are of comparatively fragile material. j

After passing the. centering mechanism which arev sethe parts previouslypperated upon arent brought into a lposltlon where they are adapted-to" be operated uponby plungers or studs -105 carried by an arm 106 of the plate 32. These studs 105-105 are directly above openin 107-107 in the plate 6 which are su ciently large to permit the easy passage of the finished parts therethrough. v v y j An auxiliary heating elementI is supplied beneath the carrier 16 and directly below the soldering irons 80-80. .This heating element is used for the purpose of insuring a suiiicient heat upon the disks to thor- Oughly melt-the solder to cause the adhesion of the disk to its support. This. auxiliary heating element may be supplied with electrical energy through the agency of conductors 112-112.

The solder between the disk and support remains in a plastic condition after the section of the carrier 16 carrying these parts has left the soldering position and until`the centering mechanism has been brought into operation. In order, however, the parts will be suliciently cooled before ejection from the carrier a cooling pipe 115,

to insure that f which may be supplied'either with cold air or water, is run through a section of the plate 6 dlrectly beneath the position of the centering devices.

The operation of the mechanism of this invention briefly is as follows:

rlhe Voperator starts the machine by start- ,f

ing the operation of the motor 8. As this motor operates, it turns the shaft 11 which, through the agency of the mutiliated gear 13 and the gear 14, starts the carrier 16 to rotating intermittently. The rotation of the shaft 11 also rotates the cam 25 which as it rotates lowers and raises the stud 20 which lowers and raises the plates 32 and 33 and the arms 38 and 39. As hereinbefore pointed out, the raising and lowering of the arm 38 causes disks to be fed into, openings 48-48 of whichever arm of the work carrier 16 is then in position under the tubes-- The reciprocating movement of the arm 39 cuts and feeds the solder, the severed portions of which are caused to drop upon disks in the openings-48-48 of the arm of the rotatable carrier 16, which is then in position under the solder feeding mechanism. Between the time that any particular arm passes between the solder feeding mechanism and the soldering irons the operator drops into the openings of the two exposed arms of the carrier 16 the metal supports l98-98 etc., and supplying them with a greater,

number of the openings 48--48.

What is. claimed is: v l. In a machine for soldering disks to supports, an. intermittently rotatable work carrier havin a plurality of sets of work holding openlngs therein each adapted in the rotative movement of said carrier to be moved into consecutive positions to complete a cycle of operations, a plate associated with said carrier for supporting the disks, means for supplying disks to each set of openings in one position of said carrier, means or supplying solder to said openings in another position thereof, heat applying means adapted to operate upon the supports in a following position of said 4 carrier to melt the solder, means for centering the supports on the disks and ejecting the soldered article from the carrier in the positions of the carrier succeeding the s01- dering position.

2. In a machine for soldering disks to supports, an intermittently rotatable work carrier having a plurality of sets of work holding openings, a plate associated with said carrier for supporting the disks, automatically operated means for supplying disks to each set of openings in one position of said carrier, means for-automatically supplying solder to each of said sets ofopenlngs in a succeeding movement of said carrier, soldering irons automatically oper-V ated to fuse the solder between said disks and said supports, means for centering said supports with respect to said disks while the solder is in a plastic condition, and Il leans for ejecting said parts from the car- IleI.

3. In a machine for soldering disks to supports, a rotatable work carrier having a plurality of sets of openings therein, each set being adapted to receive parts to be soldered, a plate associated with said carrier for supporting the disks, soldering irons located above said carrier and beneath which each set of openings is successively moved, and a heating element located below said carrier in position to coperate with said soldering irons.

4. In a machine for soldering disks to supports, a rotatable work carrier vhaving a plurality of sets of openings therein, each set of said openings being supplied with parts to be soldered, a plate associated with said carrier for supporting the disks, movable soldering irons located above said carrier in position to coperate with each set of openings in successive positions of said carrier, centering mechanism located above said carrier and adapted to engage the soldered parts after they have left the soldering irons, and cooling means located beneath said carrier adjacent said centering mechanism.

5. In a machine for soldering disks to supports, the combination with a work carrier, means for positioning solder on the work, and means for applying heat to unite the parts, of a pair of eccentrically adjustable sleeves, a stud yieldingly mounted from said sleeves for vertical movement and adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane by the adjustment of said sleeves, and means for operating said sleeves and stud to center the support on the disk.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 1st day of October, A. D. 1918.

JAMES T. GRIFFIN. CARL A. NELSON. MELVIN H. CAMPBELL. 

